In the world created by Professor Zuccini, everything is colorful -- the forest, the clothing, even people`s names.

Three sisters are Poinsettia, Poppy and Camellia. One villain is named Gold Nose and another is Countess Provolone. Two brothers are Vermicelli and Rigatoni. Music, dancing and special effects lend even more color.

The characters are part of Professor Zuccini`s Traveling Tales, a children`s musical play to be performed for the public on Saturday at the Duncan Theatre at Palm Beach Community College in Lake Worth.

The show is playing this week to enthusiastic audiences of elementary-school children. About 3,500 students will see the show, director Sunny Meyer said.

Professor Zuccini, played by Byn Smith, introduces three different tales to the audience. The show was written by Sylvia Ashby and the stories are adapted from Italian folklore.

The first is The Flower Sisters. Two sisters are so anxious to travel and earn plenty of money they get into trouble with the evil Gold Nose. They are saved by the clever third sister, Camellia.

Gold Nose, played by Zachariah Phillips, presides over a fiery pit. The ``fire`` is created with a moving laser and smoke.

Cartoon villains inspired Phillips` performance. He said: ``It`s different, playing the most villainous person in the show. You can be as outrageous as you think you can, and you can still do more.``

Charlene Cowen plays the sister who outsmarts Gold Nose. Cowen is performing in her first children`s production. ``This is the hardest thing I`ve ever done, and I`ve done a lot of theater. Everything has to be directed to the audience. But this is definitely the most fun.``

The second tale, The Pasta Brothers, warns against greed and short tempers. When Vermicelli, played by Louis Rabon, loses his money to a wicked countess, his brother, Rigatoni, remembers their father`s advice and makes things right. Rigatoni, played by Patrick A. Wilkinson, outwits the Countess Provolone.

Ericka Cooper, who plays the wicked countess, said: ``I`ve always played neutral characters. But with the countess, you can be as outrageous as you want. I like that.``

The third tale is The Proud Prince. Derek Wohlust plays the prince, who must learn humility before he can find a wife. Frank Aho plays Garbanzo the Cook in the story. ``I love working with kids. They`re a great audience,`` Aho said.

The original music for Professor Zuccini`s Traveling Tales was written and is performed by PBCC student Christopher Middlebrook. Students also are crew members, assistant directors and publicity people for the show.

Most of the PBCC students in the show also are students in Meyer`s Theatre for Children`s Audiences class. She is an assistant professor of theater at the college. Class members are required to help with the show.

TALE TO REMEMBER

-- WHAT: Professor Zuccini`s Traveling Tales, a children`s theater show presented by students of Palm Beach Community College in Lake Worth.